As the Red Sox completed a two-year contract extension for manager Terry Francona, there was no doubt the team had the right man for the job.

09:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 15, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When the Red Sox hired Terry Francona in December of 2003, they were, by their own admission, taking somewhat of a gamble.

Francona had managed the Philadelphia Phillies for four seasons before being dismissed in 2000 and never posted a winning record. In the ensuing three seasons after his firing, he had worked as a scout and a bench coach for three different organizations.

A hot commodity he wasn't.

But yesterday, as the Sox completed negotiations on a two-year extension for Francona that carries through the 2008 season, there seemed little doubt that, in retrospect, the Sox had selected the right man for the job.

"I couldn't imagine the alternative," said general manager Theo Epstein. "I don't know who we'd get (to manage instead).He's been everything we hoped for and, you could say, more."

One of the lowest-paid managers in the majors in his first two seasons with the Red Sox -- he made $500,000 in 2004 and $550,000 in 2005 -- Francona's new deal moves him closer to the top tier.

In addition to the $600,000 he was scheduled to be paid this season, the Sox will more than double his pay, giving him a $650,000 bonus, accounting for a $1.25-million base this season. It will bump further in 2007 to $1.65 million, and $1.75 million in 2008.

Among the other 29 major-league managers, it's believed that only Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa, Dusty Baker, Buck Showalter and Mike Scoscia earn more.

Francona stands to make more in incentives for reaching the postseason and winning Division Series, pennants and World Series.

The deal had its genesis in a dinner meeting last month that included Francona, Epstein, principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president/CEO Larry Lucchino.

"I couldn't tell them that night, but they had me," joked Francona. "I just needed to try and get some more money.But I never wanted this to be the story of spring training."

Following some back-and-forth proposals, the two sides basically agreed on the basics late last week before finalizing a few items late yesterday morning.

"I'm very pleased," Francona said, "and I'm very appreciative, for a lot of reasons. For something like this to happen, you have to have a great organization and great players. I've been blessed to be around both."

He labeled the process "professional and comfortable."

Epstein saluted Francona for his first two seasons, during which the manager led the Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years, then returned them to the postseason last fall. He has won 193 games in his first two years in the dugout, more than any Red Sox manager in history in that span.

Epstein cited Francona's communication skills, his feel for the game and ability to handle the unique demands of managing in Boston as some of his strongest on-the-job qualities.

"I think as good a job as he did in 2004 (when the Sox won it all)," Epstein said, "we feel he's growing on the job and getting better and more confident in this role every day."

Rewarding Francona with an extension with a full year remaining on his original deal and an option in place for next season "was never really a question for us. He's done an outstanding job from Day One when he got here."

Assuming Francona finishes out his contract through 2008, he'll be on the job for five full seasons, the longest tenure for a Red Sox manager since Joe Cronin, who managed the Sox from 1935-1947.

Don Zimmer was fired in the last week of his fifth season (1980), and Jimy Williams was let go in August of his fifth (2001) year.

Mike Higgins managed the Red Sox from 1955 through 1962, a period of eight seasons, but his tenure was interrupted for a single game in 1959.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340